A New South Wales healing centre has been fined A$66,600 for alleged unlawful advertising of medicinal cannabis products.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration issued five infringement notices to Affinity Corp Australia, the first financial penalties issued by the regulator since October last year.
Affinity’s director, Victoria Gilbert, is the founder of Embrace Wellness Healing Centre which offers a range of alternative therapy treatments in The Entrance and Kincumber, on the NSW central coast.
The TGA said the company “allegedly promoted the use of unapproved prescription-only medicinal cannabis products, including their own products”.
“Businesses can only advertise prescription-only medicines exclusively to health professionals and not to the public,” the TGA said in a statement, adding that advertising prescription-only medicines directly to consumers “undermines the doctor-patient relationship and may create an inappropriate demand for medicines which may not be right for the individual”.
“Ensuring compliance with the import, advertising and supply requirements of the Therapeutic Goods Act in relation to medicinal cannabis is a priority for the TGA,” it stressed.
“We will continue to investigate and take action in relation to alleged non-compliant advertising of medicinal cannabis products to the public.”
The TGA told Cannabiz last month that it was conducting 16 “active and in-depth” investigations into the advertising of medicinal cannabis.
